The results are in and the 2011 recipient of the $1500.00 Erlanger Community Achievement Scholarship is…….Dixie Heights senior and Erlanger resident Lauren Schultz!

Ms. Schultz wowed judges with her creativity and dedication. In 2010, she created the “Art for Afghanistan” project in an effort to help heal the horrors of war in the children of Afghanistan through art. Ms. Schultz stated in her essay that according to Cathy A. Malchiodi, Director of the Institute for the Arts & Health, art therapy helps children to process pain. Her efforts paid off. Students and other benefactors donated 2,000 packages of art supplies that the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division at Ft. Know delivered to Afghanistan when they were deployed there in January 2011.

In addition, Ms. Schultz is an active volunteer with Hannah’s Heroes where she is a one-to-one reading coach, the Kenton County Public Library where she reads with children as part of the Reading Buddies program, the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra where she collects donations and distributes surveys, and much more.

Congratulations Lauren Schultz! We wish you much success at college and in your future endeavors!